ARRL Letter

ARRL Letter Update - 1:30 PM (ET) Oct 24, 2008
==> FCC AMENDS WE2XRH EXPERIMENTAL LICENSE
In response to the October 20 ARRL Petition for Modification or
Cancellation of Experimental Authorization (Petition) concerning an
experimental license issued to Digital Aurora Radio Technologies (DART)
station WE2XRH, the FCC today issued an amended license that redefines
one of the station's frequency ranges to eliminate conflict with the
Amateur Radio Service. This revision addresses ARRL's concern that the
original 7.10 to 7.60 MHz range would cause unacceptable interference to
Amateur Radio operations in the 40 meter band. The amended license
narrows the range to 7.30 to 7.60 MHz and gives as the reason for the
change, "operation in the band 7.1-7.3 MHz will cause harmful
interference to Amateur Radio Service licensees."
"We are delighted that the FCC acted so promptly to correct this error
and are pleased that the matter has been resolved," said ARRL CEO David
Sumner, K1ZZ.
WE2XRH will be testing a proposed domestic broadcast service using a 20
kHz bandwidth digital emission at a transmitter output power of 100 kW
and an ERP of 660 kW within a radius of 1500 kilometers of Delta
Junction, Alaska. According to the amended license, the transmissions
will take place in the frequency ranges 4.4 to 5.1 MHz, 7.3 to 7.6 MHz
and 9.25 to 9.95 MHz.
***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 42
October 24, 2008
***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* + ARRL Files Petition with FCC against Experimental License Using 40
Meter Band
* + ARRL Announces New Youth Editor
* + ARRL Hosts Amateur Radio Classroom for USTTI Students
* + The "Doctor Is IN" the ARRL Letter
* + Get Ready for the ARRL November Sweepstakes
* + Next Round of PAVE PAWS Mitigation Contacts Begin
* Pension Protection Act Streamlines Charitable Donations from IRAs
* IN BRIEF:
This Weekend on the Radio
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
+ Third Annual ARRL On-Line Auction Begins
+ ARRL's 500 kHz Experimental Station, WD2XSH, Wants to Hear from
You
TAPR Announces HPSDR Mercury Receiver Board
+ Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org&gt;
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org&gt;
===========================================================
==> ARRL FILES PETITION WITH FCC AGAINST EXPERIMENTAL LICENSE USING 40
METER BAND
On Monday, October 20, the ARRL filed a "Petition for Modification or
Cancellation of Experimental Authorization" ("Petition")
<http://www.arrl.org/news/files/Digital_Aurora_Radio_Technologies_Petiti
on_10_20_08.pdf> with the FCC with respect to WE2XRH. According to the
FCC, this experimental license -- issued to Digital Aurora Radio
Technologies (DART) -- proposes to "test digital transmissions in
4.50-5.10 MHz, 7.10-7.60 MHz and 9.25-9.95 MHz for a terrestrial digital
radio service to the citizens of Alaska."
The League's petition states that DART's hopes that this experimentation
"will lead to a terrestrial, high-frequency (HF) digital aural (domestic
broadcast) service in Alaska. Ostensibly to study the operation of this
'shortwave' system at high latitudes, and apparently in order to roll
out this domestic broadcast service, DART specifies exceptionally high
power operation in various segments of the HF spectrum. ARRL's interest
in this matter is limited to the fact that the experimental license
includes the band 7.1 -7.3 MHz...allocated domestically exclusively to
the Amateur Radio Service."
"It is astonishing that the FCC would grant this experimental license
for operation at such a high power level in a band that is allocated
exclusively to a service with which such operation is clearly
incompatible," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ.
"The only possible explanation is that it was an error; the only
reasonable step for the FCC to take is to correct its error immediately,
either by cancelling the license or by amending the frequency ranges to
delete 7.1 -7.3 MHz."
It is the ARRL's view that "Simply stated, there is a 100 percent
certainty of severe, continuous, harmful interference from operation of
the DART facilities as authorized by the Commission to ongoing Amateur
Radio operation at 7.1 to 7.3 MHz. This authorization must be modified
immediately (if not cancelled completely), so as to delete the band
7.1-7.3 MHz" from DART's experimental license application.
DART has been permitted operation in the 7.1-7.6 MHz band using a 20 kHz
bandwidth digital emission at a transmitter output power of 100 kW and
an ERP of 660 kW within a radius of 1500 kilometers of Delta Junction,
Alaska. In the petition, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, points
out that while DART says it will coordinate with the High Frequency
Coordination Conference (HFCC) <http://www.hfcc.org/>, "[i]t does not
propose any coordination with any individual or entity in the Amateur
Service. There is no showing whatsoever how DART proposes to avoid
interference to Amateur Radio operation at 7.1-7.3 MHz. In fact, there
is no indication that DART is even aware of the allocation."
Calling the 40 meter band "perhaps the most heavily-utilized Amateur HF
band in the United States," the ARRL states that it can see "no
compatible use that DART can make of this band in any state or territory
of the United States, at any time of the day or night" and that such use
will cause "preclusive interference" to amateurs using that portion of
the band. "The entire 7.0 - 7.3 MHz band is used heavily within Alaska,
especially by radio amateurs located in its remotest areas, at all
times. It is particularly critical in times of emergency due to its
daytime and nighttime propagation characteristics. The band is also used
at all times of the day and night for worldwide communications by radio
amateurs."
The League's "Petition" points out that the FCC's Rules at Section
5.83(b) state that experimental license grants are subject to change or
cancellation by the Commission at any time without hearing if in the
Commission's discretion the need for such action arises: "ARRL submits
that this application should never have been granted as applied for in
the first place, and there is an urgent need to prohibit operation of
the DART high power transmitters in the entirety of the 7.1-7.3 MHz
band. It is likely that DART has been under a misapprehension that the
band is among the international broadcast allocations, because, in ITU
Regions 1 and 3, the band is allocated to that Service. However, in
Region 2, in Alaska, it is not." After March 29, 2009, 7.1-7.2 MHz will
not be available for broadcasting anywhere.
The League goes on to say that Section 5.85 of the Commission's Rules
governs the selection and use of frequencies by holders of experimental
authorizations and adamantly states that "there is no justification
submitted by DART for the use of the frequency bands requested,
particularly with respect to 7.1-7.3 MHz. It is unclear why such large
segments of spectrum were specified by DART, given its stated course of
experimentation, and given its narrow occupied bandwidth" and notes that
DART "should have been required to conduct its frequency coordination
efforts in advance of the filing of its application."
The ARRL contends that DART's proposed facility cannot meet the FCC's
requirements, as outlined in the Commission's Rules, Section
5.111(a)(2), "and there is no showing that the transmitter power is the
lowest practical value consistent with the program of experimentation.
Nor has it even taken Amateur Radio operation into account." This
portion of the Rules state that when transmitting, the experimental
licensee "must use every precaution to ensure that the radio frequency
energy emitted will not cause harmful interference to the services
carried on by stations operating in accordance with the Table of
Frequency Allocations of part 2 of this chapter and, further, that the
power radiated is reduced to the lowest practical value consistent with
the program of experimentation for which the station authorization is
granted. If harmful interference to an established radio service
develops, the licensee shall cease transmissions and such transmissions
shall not be resumed until it is certain that harmful interference will
not be caused."
Calling for DART's WE2XRH experimental license to "be cancelled
entirely, or at least modified so as to delete the reference to any
Amateur HF allocation," the ARRL reminded the FCC that DART failed to
make any showing as to how it would avoid interference to Amateur Radio
operation at 7.1-7.3 MHz: "ARRL submits that such a showing could not be
made in any case."
==> ARRL ANNOUNCES NEW YOUTH EDITOR
Duncan MacLachlan, KU0DM, of Prairie Village, Kansas, has been named as
the new ARRL Youth Editor and will write the Youth@HamRadio.Fun column
<http://www.arrl.org/news/youth/>. MacLachlan, who turns 14 next week,
takes over from Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, as she continues her education
at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Amateur Radio
runs in the MacLachlan family -- 12 family members are hams. "I got
interested in ham radio through Boy Scouts," MacLachlan said, "but it
was with family support that I got licensed."
An ARRL member, MacLachlan was first licensed in February 2006. "I
passed my Technician and decided I might as well get the code out of the
way at the same time," he said. "I came home that afternoon with my CSCE
and began the cycle of looking at radios, checking their price and then
checking to see if I was in the database. Finally, after what felt like
a year, but was really just a few days, I learned my call: KC0VVU."
Using an old handheld transceiver that his uncle, Phillip Fry, WD0FHK,
loaned him, MacLachlan quickly got on the air. "I soon learned that I
wasn't going to get into any repeaters from my room, so I put on a
jacket and went outside to brave a February evening to talk on the
radio," he said. "It was worth it! But it wasn't long that I got
restless with being restricted to VHF/UHF -- I wanted to be able to talk
around the world! I decided it was time to get to work on getting my
General class license. I studied for two weeks and passed that test in
April 2006 at a local hamfest."
MacLachlan said he remembers "getting on HF and gleefully calling CQ
every afternoon." But soon, he said, he caught the DX bug: "I was
satisfied with stateside QSOs, but not for long. I had heard about DX
hunters, and the 'last 25,' so after doing some research, I knew I'd
need my Amateur Extra license to get those contacts. After about a year
of procrastinating, I decided it was time to start studying for my
Extra. I think late January 2007 was one of the happiest times of my ham
career: I had passed my Extra! Later that year, I changed my call to
KU0DM. The KU is for University of Kansas (go Jayhawks!) and the DM is
for my initials."
Since then, MacLachlan has become active in public service and emergency
communications. "I feel that it is very important to provide Amateur
Radio communications when asked or needed and that we do it in a way
that is efficient for the operation and that respects accepted practice
on the bands. I am currently the coordinator for the Johnson County ARES
Rapid Response Team. My job is to assemble a roster of amateurs who are
ready to respond at moment's notice to any disaster or request to aid in
communications."
Outside of public service, MacLachlan, who calls himself a "big APRS
geek," enjoys helping to build and maintain repeaters and digipeaters,
trying to get the most range and reliability out of them. "I am a huge
DXer," he said. "My total is currently at 110 entities (with a dipole
and 100 W). When I get the chance, I'll put in an effort for almost any
contest. I mainly operate SSB, but am getting up to speed on my CW after
a year-long hiatus. I also enjoy weak-signal/sound card modes on HF and
spend a lot of my time on PSK31 or RTTY. My favorite band is 15 meters.
It is really almost always open, but people just don't use it."
Outside of ham radio, MacLachlan is an 8th grader at Indian Hills Middle
School: "I enjoy football, basketball, climbing, swimming, listening to
music and just spending time with friends and family. I am a Life Scout
with Boy Scout Troop 91 and am working toward my Eagle Scout rank. I
also am a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow. I'm always
looking ahead to see what's next in life and Amateur Radio!"
The two previous ARRL youth editors -- Hartlage and Brian Mileshosky,
N5ZGT -- have both received the prestigious Hiram Percy Maxim Award from
the ARRL <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/awards/hpm.html>, as well as
"Amateur Radio Newsline's" Young Ham of the Year Award (YHOTY). Hartlage
was also awarded the Goldfarb Scholarship
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/04/12/101/> from the ARRL
Foundation in 2007. Mileshosky currently serves as Rocky Mountain
Division Director; he is the youngest to be elected ARRL Vice Director
and Director.
==> ARRL HOSTS AMATEUR RADIO CLASSROOM FOR USTTI STUDENTS
Students from Kenya, The Gambia, Ghana, The Philippines, Honduras,
Dominica and Nepal attended the United States Telecommunications
Training Institute (USTTI) Amateur Radio Administration Course (ARAC)
<http://ustti.org/courses/display.php3?CourseID=332> at ARRL
Headquarters October 13-17. ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo,
W4RI, coordinated the session and led the course. ARRL Assistant to the
Chief Executive Officer and Meeting Planner Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ,
coordinated with ARRL's participation with USTTI.
ARRL Technical Relations Manager Brennan Price, N4QX, led the classes on
the first day. According to Price, the students work in their respective
government telecommunications offices dealing with telecommunications
and Amateur Radio testing, licensing and monitoring. "Our seven students
-- Fitzroy Pascal (Dominica), Purushottam Prasad Khanal (Nepal), Godfrey
Odipo (Kenya), Eriberta Tamoro (The Philippines), Paola Michelle Pascua
Cantarero (Honduras), Constance Takyi (Ghana) and Rodine Renner (The
Gambia) -- made the trek to Newington," said Price. "The curriculum
covered a wide variety of Amateur Radio topics and concerns, including
licensing, spectrum requirements, disaster communications and antenna
requirements." The curriculum also covered the ITU and its regulations,
as well as the process leading to the 2011 World Radiocommunication
Conference (WRC-11).
"All seven students took a keen interest in how the Amateur Radio
Service has developed through its history and continues to develop
today," Price said. "There was a particular interest in RFI issues, and
students were receptive to our ideas for resolving these issues."
Numerous ARRL HQ staff assisted with the course. VEC Manager Maria
Somma, AB1FM; Assistant VEC Manager Perry Green, WY1O, and Regulatory
Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, covered US Amateur Radio
Licensing Structure and the VEC program. Dennis Dura, K2DCD, presented
the Disaster Communications module, and ARRL Publications Manager and
QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, spoke on HF digital communications and
Amateur Radio satellites.
ARRL Laboratory staff members -- Mike Gruber, W1MG; Bob Allison, WB1GCM;
Zack Lau, W1VT, and Ed Hare, W1RFI -- also contributed to the training
effort. Hare and Gruber delivered presentations on RFI and RF safety,
while Lau demonstrated 10 GHz equipment. Gruber and Allison assisted the
students in assembling 40 meter receivers.
The Amateur Radio Administration Course is designed for those in
developing countries who regulate and manage their countries' Amateur
Radio Service. The course is intended to help participants create,
administer and foster an Amateur Radio Service in their home countries.
Now in its 26th year, USTTI is a nonprofit venture involving leading
US-based communications and information technology corporations, as well
as leaders in the federal government, cooperating to provide
tuition-free management, policy and technical training for talented
professionals from the developing world <http://ustti.org/>. ARRL has
been offering the ARAC with USTTI for 24 years.
==> THE "DOCTOR IS IN" THE ARRL LETTER
This week, ARRL Letter readers are in luck! The ARRL's very own Doctor,
author of the popular QST column "The Doctor Is IN," answers a question
from his mailbag:
Jim Kueck, KC9LMO, of Long Grove, Illinois, asks: I greatly enjoyed the
article about feeding a dipole with low loss balanced line in July 2008
QST. I have put up a half wave 40 meter dipole fed with 300 Ohm twin
lead, with an antenna tuner at the radio. This $15 antenna has worked
very well on 40 and 20 meters, with many European contacts logged using
just 100 W.
Is there any concern about having RF in the shack with the twinlead as a
feed line? I have read that a long wire antenna can pose this problem
and want to be sure that I'm not slow cooking myself with this feed line
going right in back of my operating position.
The Doctor Answers -- The short answer is no, but the long answer is
longer! If the dipole is fed in the center, the two sides are at the
same height and the transmission line is perpendicular to the antenna,
the currents on the two sides of the balanced transmission line will be
equal and opposite and there is virtually no radiation outside of an
imaginary tube a few times the wire spacing around the wires.
If all of those conditions are not met, there may be some radiation from
the line, but it will generally be a small portion of the total signal.
Note that if you were to feed the dipole with coax, if you didn't have a
balun at the antenna, the current on the outside of the shield would
likely be higher than that from a not quite balanced dipole fed with
balanced line. Note also that the pickup on a transmission line that is
not perpendicular to the antenna would be about the same on coax as
balanced line.
So my conclusion is that balanced line and coax are about the same in
this regard, as long as you stay more than a few inches from the line --
it can have high RF voltage in places. If you notice effects of large
common mode currents on you feed line -- typically a hot chassis or RF
feedback -- you will want to address them for many reasons, but even
then I have trouble imagining an RF safety issue especially at the 100 W
level.
One caution worth mentioning is that twinlead may be more susceptible to
picking up RFI as it works its way to the tuner. Make sure you keep it
as far as possible from your PC or other potential RFI generators.
Do you have a question or a problem? Send your questions via e-mail
<doctor@arrl.org&gt;; or to "The Doctor," ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
06111 (no phone calls, please). Look for "The Doctor Is IN" every month
in QST, the official journal of the ARRL.
==> GET READY FOR THE ARRL NOVEMBER SWEEPSTAKES
This year marks the 75th running of the premier domestic contest, the
ARRL CW Sweepstakes
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/novss.html>. According to ARRL
Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, the event started back in 1929
as a competition for handling formal traffic messages and is one of the
oldest traditions in Amateur Radio. "The contest exchange contains more
elements than usual, an homage to the traffic-handling days of yore," he
said. "If you have never participated in Sweepstakes, you are really
missing out on some serious fun! A complete primer by ARRL Contributing
Editor H. Ward Silver, N0AX, on how to participate in Sweepstakes can be
found in the Radiosport supplement in the October 2008 issue of QST."
Kutzko said that since 2008 is the 75th running of Sweepstakes, ARRL is
anticipating record levels of participation and many prizes will be
available for those who participate: "We'll have a special magnet that
will be sent free to all stations that submit a log with 75 of the 80
ARRL and RAC Sections worked. As in previous years, those who submit
logs with at least 100 contacts will be able to purchase Participation
Pins."
The major challenge in Sweepstakes is to work all 80 ARRL/RAC Sections;
this is known as a "Clean Sweep." "This year, we will be awarding a
Clean Sweep whisk broom to all stations that make a Clean Sweep," Kutzko
said. "Brooms were last available in 1983, the 50th running of
Sweepstakes. In addition to the free brooms, Clean Sweep coffee mugs
will also be available for purchase. This year's mug will be fine etched
glass and will truly be a collector's item."
Thanks to ICOM America <http://www.icomamerica.com/>, the Principal
Award Sponsor of the November Sweepstakes, certificates will be awarded
for first place in each of the 80 ARRL/RAC Sections for all six entry
categories; plaques will be available to the overall winners in each
entry category, as well as the winners in each Division. "ICOM has
provided plaques and certificates for Sweepstakes winners since 2005,
and we are grateful for their support over the years," Kutzko said.
"Certain Sections are always rare for Sweepstakes, especially on CW,"
Kutzko pointed out. "VY0/VY1/VE8 (Northern Territories), VE1-VE9-VY2
(Maritimes), VE2 (Quebec), VE4 (Manitoba), VE5 (Saskatchewan), VO1-VO2
(Newfoundland-Labrador), Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and
Wyoming always seem to be highly sought after. If you live in one of
these places (or want to travel there), this is a golden opportunity for
you to be the 'rare DX.' Stations in these Sections get to hear 'Thanks
for the Sweep!' more than once during the weekend. Even if your CW is
rusty or your station is modest, your effort to put a rare Section on
the air during CW Sweepstakes will be appreciated by every single
station that works you."
Whether you want to go for a Top 10 finish, or simply get on the air to
hand out a few QSOs or work on your Worked All States Award (WAS)
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/was/>, Kutzko said the November CW
Sweepstakes is guaranteed fun and excitement. Be sure to check out the
complete rules and entry forms. Come be a part of one of Amateur Radio's
finest traditions <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/novss.html>.
==> NEXT ROUND OF PAVE PAWS MITIGATION CONTACTS BEGIN
On October 22, the FCC notified the ARRL that they would immediately
begin making direct contact with owners or trustees of approximately 40
repeaters. The US Air Force identified these repeaters earlier this year
as contributors to the harmful interference affecting the Beale Air
Force Base PAVE PAWS radar installation near Sacramento, California.
"ARRL understands that contact with individual amateurs will be made
from the DFCC's San Francisco office," said ARRL Regulatory Information
Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. "The owners of these newly
identified repeaters will be provided the operating parameters
determined by the Air Force engineering unit's testing to be necessary
to mitigate the interference. The owners will be requested to meet
signal strength limits as soon as possible. The ARRL Lab and staff are
available to answer specific questions for the owners of these newly
identified repeaters and to provide technical information to assist them
in implementing the mitigation."
Henderson said that as the Amateur Radio Service is a secondary user on
the 70 cm band, "It is important for amateurs to remember that it is 100
percent our responsibility to eliminate harmful interference to the
primary user. While we realize that this is and will continue to be an
ongoing process, this third round of mitigation should mean that each of
the known repeaters in the affected area has been tested at least once.
How the FCC will address approximately 50 repeaters previously
identified as interference contributors -- but which have not apparently
completed the required modifications -- still remains. Nor is it clear
when a process by which new coordinations can be issued in the area
might commence."
Henderson reminded amateurs that "It is important to remember that this
isn't a one-time solution. The amateur community needs to remain aware
of this problem and responsibly utilize the band in the future to avoid
any large-scale problems such as those we have experienced in this
situation."
==>PENSION PROTECTION ACT STREAMLINES CHARITABLE DONATIONS FROM IRAS
The ARRL Development Office notes that legislation was signed on October
3, 2008 in conjunction with the Economic Stimulus Bill of 2008 to
include the immediate and retroactive extension of the popular
charitable contribution a provision of the Pension Protection Act (PPA)
of 2006.
Certain IRA holders may give something back to Amateur Radio by donating
to the Spectrum Defense Fund, the ARRL Education and Technology Fund or
the ARRL Diamond Club. The Diamond Club provides flexible funding for a
variety of programs not supported by member dues.
"Individuals who are at least 70-1/2 and support nonprofits of their
choice may use IRA or Roth IRA assets as a convenient, tax-efficient
source to make contributions while conserving non-IRA assets," ARRL
Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, points out. "Contributions
must be made directly from the IRA to the organization, not to a
donor-advised fund, gift annuity or trust." Hobart says contributions of
up to $100,000 may be made annually during each of the next two years --
by December 31, 2008 and again next year by December 31, 2009. "A direct
contribution from an IRA to a qualified organization is excluded from
income," she emphasizes. "We have received significant support through
this program. I hope donors will take advantage of this renewed giving
opportunity in 2008 -- and again next year!"
This two-year program expires December 31, 2009. Hobart urges
prospective donors to consult with a financial advisor before taking
advantage of this opportunity. Contact Hobart <mhobart@arrl.org&gt; for
more information or call 860-594-0397. You can also visit the ARRL's PPA
Web site <http://www.arrl.org/development/ppa.html#top> for more
information.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This Weekend on the Radio: This week, the NCCC Sprint on October 24.
The Microwave Fall Sprint is October 25 (local time). The CQ Worldwide
DX Contest (SSB) and the 10-10 International Fall Contest are October
25-26. Next week, look for the ARRL Sweepstakes Contest (CW) on November
1-3. The NCCC Sprint is October 31 and the IPARC Contest (CW) is
November 1. The Ukrainian DX Contest is November 1-2. The IPARC Contest
(SSB), the High Speed Club CW Contest and the DARC 10 Meter Digital
Contest are all November 2. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC.
See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the
ARRL Contest Update <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the
WA7BNM Contest Calendar
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking
for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event
Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.
* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains
open through Sunday, November 9, 2008, for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, November 21, 2008: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 2 (EC-002); Antenna Modeling (EC-004); HF Digital
Communications (EC-005); VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008),
and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011). Each online course has been
developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative
text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some
include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students
register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks
(depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of
day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times
convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by
answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as
providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted
through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present
-- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where
it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cep/student> or contact the Continuing Education
Program Coordinator <cep@arrl.org&gt;.
* Third Annual ARRL On-Line Auction Begins: The Third Annual ARRL
On-Line Auction kicked off Thursday, October 23
<http://www.arrl.org/auction >. With almost 200 items up for bid, this
event promises to have something for just about everyone. This year's
auction will again include many transceivers and other items, including
items that have appeared in the QST Product Review column, and have thus
been thoroughly tested by the ARRL Lab. According to ARRL Chief
Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, "Last year's online auction --
our second -- proved to be a successful and enjoyable event for both
hams and ARRL staff members alike. When the bidding ended, we realized
that we had sold 162 items and sold just over $50,000 worth of
merchandise." Proceeds from the auction benefit ARRL education programs
including activities to license new hams, strengthen Amateur Radio's
emergency service training, offer continuing technical and operating
education, as well as create instructional materials. The auction runs
through Friday, October 31 on the ARRL Web site.
* ARRL's 500 kHz Station, WD2XSH, Wants to Hear from You: Fritz Raab,
W1FR, coordinator for ARRL's 500 kHz Experimental Station, WD2XSH
<http://www.500kc.com/>, reports that fall has brought lower static and
good propagation, making excellent conditions for the 500 kHz
experimenters. The experimental license, issued in September 2006
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/09/15/104/>, has more than 20
active stations. Raab said that last year, a second US experimental
license -- WE2XGR, with five participants -- joined the project, as well
as experimenters in the UK, Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
These stations' operating modes include CW, QRSS, PSK-31 and others.
Contacts have been achieved at distances up to 1234 miles, with signals
received from all over North America, Alaska and Hawaii; trans-Atlantic
reports are not uncommon. "The 500 kHz experimenters are experiencing
excellent propagation conditions," Raab said. "The best time to listen
is between sunset and sunrise." The operating frequencies are: WD2XSH --
505.2-510 kHz; WE2XGR -- 505-515 kHz; UK -- 501-504 kHz, and SM, DL, OK
-- 505.0-505.2 kHz. Raab requests that listeners file reception reports
at the experiment's Web site so that they become part of the station's
data base <http://www.500kc.com/>. Additional information can be found
at the experiment's Web site and also in the July/August 2007 issue of
QEX <http://www.arrl.org/qex/2007/07/raab.pdf>.
* TAPR Announces HPSDR Mercury Receiver Board: High Performance Software
Defined Radio (HPSDR) is an open-source hardware and software project
designed and developed by a group of enthusiasts with representation
from interested experimenters worldwide. TAPR <http://www.tapr.org/> is
looking for a "show of interest" to determine the production run for the
new HPSDR Mercury receiver board. The assembled Mercury receiver board
uses SMT parts and is manufactured in quantity by machine. If
interested, please check out the HAMSDR Web site and log in
<http://www.hamsdr.com/>. You will find the interest page under the
<Projects><TAPR-HAMSDR> tab. Once interest has been determined, Mercury
boards may be purchased from TAPR. Mercury board specifications can be
found here <http://hpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=MERCURY>.
===========================================================
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860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.
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The ARRL Letter

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Outlook Express

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Outlook 2007

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Use the "Message text garbled?" link in the drop-down menu at the upper right of the displayed message block. pine, alpine Set "prefer-plain-text" in your ~/.pinerc configuration file: feature-list=..., prefer-plain-text, ...